IT’S TIME TO MAKE PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING
A NATIONAL PRIORITY
February 1, 2006
Dear President Bush and Members of Congress:
The health of all Americans is at risk from an unprecedented range of threats, including: chronic diseases and disabilities, infectious and food borne illnesses, biological and chemical terrorism, mental disorders and substance abuse, catastrophic injuries, and a shortage of healthcare providers and trained public health workers. And yet, last year, Congress cut public health programs by over $1 billion, many of which continue to struggle to respond to sharply increased demands in the wake of the greatest natural disaster to strike the United States: Hurricane Katrina.
Consequently, the undersigned organizations urge you to increase funding for public health through the Function 550/discretionary budget allocation in Fiscal Year 2007 by an amount reflecting application of appropriate inflation factors to the final FY 2006 funding level plus $1 billion. The rationale for this request is two-fold: 1) to maintain purchasing power for health programs; and 2) to restore funding for programs cut in the FY 2006 appropriations process and accommodate program initiatives to protect and strengthen our nation’s health. Without additional resources on this scale, our nation’s public health system – the continuum of medical research, prevention, treatment and training programs – cannot respond adequately to the threats, challenges and opportunities facing the nation.
Our request does not include, but rather is over and above, the Administration’s anticipated funding increase for pandemic flu preparedness in the FY 2007 budget request.
To respond to this letter, please contact Dr. Marcia Mabee, Executive Director, Coalition for Health Funding: mmabee@ix.netcom.com; Voice – 703-709-3001;
FAX – 703-709-3003; 11479 Waterview, Suite 200; Reston, VA 20190. Sincerely,
AARP
Academy of General Dentistry Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research Administrators of Internal Medicine Advancement of Psychology
Advancement of Social Work Research Advocate Health Care
African American Health Alliance AIDS Action
AIDS Action Baltimore AIDS Action in Mississippi
AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families AIDS Foundation of Chicago
AIDS Project Los Angeles
AIDS Survival Project
Allegheny-Singer Research Institute Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine Alliance for Childhood Cancer
Alliance for Children and Families Alliance of Cardiovascular Professionals Alliance of the American Dental Association Alstrom Syndrome International
Alzheimer's Association
Ambulatory Pediatric Association America Walks
America’s Blood Centers
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
American Academy of Emergency Medicine American Academy of Family Physicians American Academy of HIV Medicine American Academy of Neurology
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Physician Assistants American Association for Dental Research American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
American Association for Respiratory Care American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
American Association for the Surgery of Trauma American Association of Children's Residential Centers
American Association of Colleges of Nursing American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine
American Association of Dental Consultants American Association of Neurological Surgeons/ Congress of Neurological Surgeons
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
American Association of Orthodontists American Association of Pastoral Counselors American Association of Public Health Dentistry American Association of Tissue Banks
American Association of University Professors American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association
American Brain Coalition American Cancer Society
American College of Cardiology
American College of Clinical Pharmacology American College of Clinical Pharmacy American College of Dentists
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American College of Osteopathic Surgeons American College of Physicians
American College of Preventive Medicine American College of Sports Medicine American College of Surgeons
American College Health Association American Counseling Association American Dental Association
American Dental Education Association American Dental Hygienists' Association American Diabetes Association
American Dietetic Association
American Federation for Medical Research American Gastroenterological Association American Geriatrics Society
American Group Psychotherapy Association American Heart Association
American Hospital Association
American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
American Liver Foundation American Lung Association
American Medical Informatics Association American Medical Student Association American Music Therapy Association American Nephrology Nurses Association American Nurses Association
American Occupational Therapy Association American Optometric Association
American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics American Osteopathic Association
American Pediatric Society
American Physical Therapy Association American Physiological Society American Podiatric Medical Association American Psychiatric Association American Psychoanalytic Association American Psychological Association American Psychotherapy Association American Public Health Association American School Health Association American Sickle Cell Anemia Association American Social Health Association
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science American Society for Microbiology
American Society for Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics
American Society for Reproductive Medicine American Society of Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists, Inc.
American Society of Hematology American Society of Nephrology
American Society of Pediatric Nephrology American Society of Plastic Surgeons American Society of Transplant Surgeons American Society of Transplantation American Sociological Association American Stroke Association
American Student Dental Association American Thoracic Society
Americans for Medical Progress
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research A O North America
Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation APS Foundation of America, Inc.
Arthritis Foundation
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Association for Psychological Science Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Association of Academic Health Centers Association of American Medical Colleges Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
Association of Clinical Research Training Association of Departments of Family Medicine Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs Association of Medical School Pediatric
Department Chairs
Association of Minority Health Professions Schools
Association of Nutrition Services Agencies Association of Organ Procurement Organizations Association of Professors of Medicine
Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine
Association of Public Health Laboratories Association of Schools of Public Health
Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Association of Subspecialty Professors
Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine Association of University Centers on Disabilities Association of University Programs in Health Administration
Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law BCCNS Life Support Network
Bienestar
Biophysical Society BJC HealthCare
Boston University School of Medicine Boys Town National Research Hospital Brain Injury Association of America California Medical Association Campaign for Public Health Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Care Alliance Health Center CARES Foundation, Inc.
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Center for Science in the Public Interest Center for the Advancement of Health Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Child Neurology Society Children's Dental Health Project Christopher Reeve Foundation
Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine Coalition for American Trauma Care Coalition for Health Funding
Coalition for Health Services Research
Coalition for the Advancement of Health Through Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Coalition of Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue
Coalition of National Health Education Organizations
Coalition to Protect Research Columbia University Medical Center
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Communities Advocating Emergency AIDS Relief Community Health Councils, Inc.
Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals Consortium of Social Science Associations Cooley's Anemia Foundation
Cornell University
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Creighton University
Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Developmental Disabilities Research Centers Association
Digestive Disease National Coalition Directors of Health Promotion and Health Education
Duke University Medical Center and Health System
Dystonia Medical Research Foundation East Coast Greenway Alliance
East Tennessee State University, Health Sciences Division
Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma Emergency Nurses Association
Epilepsy Foundation ESA, Inc.
Eta Sigma Gamma, the Professional Health Education Honor Society
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Federation of Behavioral, Psychological, and Cognitive Sciences
Flint's Youth Violence Prevention Center FRAXA Research Foundation
Friends of Indian Health Gay Men’s Health Crisis
General Clinical Research Centers Program Directors Association
Genetic Alliance
Genetic Alliance BioBank Genetics Society of America Global Health Council
Gluten Intolerance Group of NA GW Cancer Institute
Harvard University
Health Professions Network
Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) Heart Rhythm Society
Hemophilia Federation of America Hepatitis Foundation International
Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Network Inc. Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation, Inc
Hispanic & Native American Center of Excellence Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools HIV Medicine Association
Housing Works
Huntington’s Disease Society of America Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association IEEE-USA
Infectious Diseases Society of America International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
International Health Racquet & Sports Club Association
Interstitial Cystitis Association
IsoDicentric 15 Exchange, Advocacy & Support Jeffrey Modell Foundation
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
Lymphoma Research Foundation March of Dimes
Mayo Clinic
Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical Library Association/Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries Medicine-Pediatrics Program Directors Association
Meharry Medical College Meridian Health
MLD Foundation
Morehouse School of Medicine Mount Sinai Medical Center Muscular Dystrophy Association Myasthenia Gravis Foundation
NAADAC- The Association for Addiction Professionals
NATCO - The Organization for Transplant Professionals
National AHEC Organization
National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research National Alliance for Thrombosis and
Thrombophilia
National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors
National Alliance on Mental Illness National Alopecia Areata Foundation
National Association for Children's Behavioral Health
National Association for Geriatric Education National Association for Geriatric Education Centers
National Association for Health and Fitness National Association for Sport and Physical Education
National Association of Children's Hospitals National Association of Community Health Centers
National Association of Counties
National Association of County and City Health Officials
National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors
National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
National Association of Geriatric Education Centers
National Association of Local Boards of Health National Association of Medical Minority Educators, Inc
National Association of People with AIDS National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems
National Association of School Psychologists National Association of Social Workers
National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Directors
National Association of State EMS Officials National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
National Ataxia Foundation National Black Nurses Association
National Caucus of Basic Biomedical Science Chairs
National Coalition for Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases
National Coalition of STD Directors National Eczema Association for Science & Education
National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association
National Health Care for the Homeless Council National Hispanic Medical Association National Indian Health Board
National Kidney Foundation National League for Nursing National Lymphedema Network National Marfan Foundation
National Mental Health Association
National Mental Health Planning and Advisory Councils
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Network of Health Career Programs National Organization for Rare Disorders National Organization of Vascular Anomalies National Osteoporosis Foundation
National Psoriasis Foundation
National Recreation and Park Association National Sleep Foundation
National Student Nurses' Association National WIC Association
NephCure Foundation Neurofibromatosis, Inc. Neuropathy Association
Neuropathy Research Foundation New York AIDS Coalition
North American Primary Care Research Group Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine NYU School of Medicine
Oncology Nursing Society
Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Parkinsons Action Network
Partnership for Prevention Patient Services Incorporated
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Planned Parenthood
Population Association of America/Association of Population Centers
Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association Project Inform
Propionic Acidemia Foundation Public Health Institute
Pulmonary Hypertension Association PXE International
Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Coalition Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital Research!America
Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation San Francisco AIDS Foundation Scleroderma Foundation
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States
Shape Up America!
Shaping America's Health: Association for Weight Management and Obesity Prevention Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation
Society for Investigative Dermatology Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Society for Neuroscience
Society for Pediatric Research Society for Public Health Education Society for Research in Child Development Society for Vascular Nursing
Society for Women's Health Research Society of Critical Care Medicine Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates
Society of General Internal Medicine Society of Gynecologic Oncologists Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Society of Trauma Nurses
Special Care Dentistry
Spina Bifida Association of America Stanford University School of Medicine SUNY Upstate Medical University
TeenScreen® The AIDS Institute The ALS Association
The American Association of Immunologists The American Society for Cell Biology The American Society of Human Genetics The Endocrine Society
The Gerontological Society of America The Joint Steering Committee for Public Policy The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. The Ohio State University Medical Center The Protein Society
The Title II Community AIDS National Network Tourette Syndrome Association
Trust for America’s Health
University Hospitals of Cleveland University of California
University of Chicago
University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center
University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine University of Medicine and Dentistry of
New Jersey-New Jersey Dental School University of Minnesota
University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of New Mexico School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania Health System University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center University of Rochester Medical Center University of Utah
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
USA Section of the International College of Dentists
Vanderbilt University Medical Center WA State Association of Local Public Health Officials
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo and Western New York
Wisconsin Association for Biomedical Research & Education
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Society Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Yale University YMCA of the USA